I fit is before the mid 70's you will have lead based paint issues upon rebuilding and other things that will increase costs with the newer government guidelines for rehabs.

I would just replace the rotten wood, freshen it up with a coat a paint and keep it as a storage shed.

Our CHA inspection costs range around a few hundred bucks on average but we have a few that cost us $800-$900 every year just because either that tenant is rougher on the property or the property has various exterior areas that need to be painted annually to pass on the chip paint rules(Lead Paint or not).Another thing to understand is tenant portions.

Yeah I just can't bring myself to buy a new car.The car insurance,car payment,depreciation just makes new car one of the worst investments ever.Some of my friends say "But I have to have a brand new car so I have reliable transportation to get to work".It's a cop out and there are plenty of cars not brand new that will work.People want to justify making bad decisions.I am a car guy myself and my first business was a car audio shop so I can fix most of the stuff myself.My brother also owns a used car dealership and can get me awesome cars at the private auction for cheap.What I care about is the mechanicals.The paint and interior is cheap to redo.I look in the paper sometimes at new cars and can't believe the prices they are asking.If you bought a new car it's like someone beating you up and taking thousands of dollars once you drive off the lot.If you want a newer car you look for the sweet spot of under 50k miles that is 2 to 4 years old.Those vehicles have depreciated hard but still have a lot of miles on them to go and you can still get good financing.Those vehicles go fast so you have to be ready to act.I have always wanted a Ferrari but I think it would be cheaper sometime just to rent one for a few days and get it out of my system for awhile.

I spoke with him and found he has put a new roof,carport roof, furnace, outside paint job,and two window units in.

Do you have other options besides painting?

If you can paint instead or decorate the lawn with nice flowers, landscaping, new door, etc. that might be a more cost effective way to pretty up the place and give more curb appeal.

Take the equity and buy a structurly sound house that just needs paint and updating, sell, take that money and buy another and do the same plus a small home or condo to rent out and build from there.What can I do to improve on this basic plan?

Be it plumbing,painting,drywalling or whatever is a tough business.

So it is a busy season... contractors often don't return calls. you book appointments with them  and they never show up , or show up gives a bid and then say they actually  booked...I have two properties in Kansas City right now that needs exterior and interior paint job.its about 4000-4500 budget for eachI purchase all paintfinally two  contractors bid and ready to do it but  insist on getting 1000 to 2000 upfront  for each property before they start .I am not too excited paying someone I dont know those amounts.can any of you who are experience in rehabs have a creative solution not to losethose contractors but reduce the risk?